Help-seeking behaviors among survivors of intimate partner violence during pregnancy in 54 low- and middle-income countries: evidence from Demographic and Health Survey data
Abstract Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy is a global issue of public health importance. Due to the low rates of help-seeking in response to IPV, research on survivors’ help-seeking behaviors is scarce, particularly within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The pres...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21421-3 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832571261711024128 |
|---|---|
| author | Mariella Stiller Michael Lowery Wilson Till Bärnighausen Adebola Adedimeji Erin Lewis Anne Abio |
| author_facet | Mariella Stiller Michael Lowery Wilson Till Bärnighausen Adebola Adedimeji Erin Lewis Anne Abio |
| author_sort | Mariella Stiller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy is a global issue of public health importance. Due to the low rates of help-seeking in response to IPV, research on survivors’ help-seeking behaviors is scarce, particularly within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The present study provides a cross-national evidence of informal and formal help-seeking patterns among pregnant women experiencing IPV. Methods This study made use of population-based data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program from 54 LMICs, collected between 2005 and 2020 (N = 359,027). Applying bivariate and multivariable analyses, the present study examined IPV survivors’ help-seeking distributions and associations with individual, partner, family, and community factors. Results Only half of survivors sought help in response to IPV during pregnancy with wide regional and national variations, mainly from informal support networks (including family, neighbors, and friends), and rarely from formal institutions (including legal, socio-cultural, and medical services). Evidence shows that help-seeking behaviors were associated with IPV survivors’ age and educational attainment, survivors’ employment status and earnings compared to their partners, survivors’ consumption of mass media, intimate partner’s age and education, spouse’s alcohol consumption and controlling behaviors, survivors’ wealth index, place of residence, and health-seeking barriers, among others. Conclusion Practitioners are encouraged to consider the study’s outcomes when designing interventions and support for survivors seeking help in response to IPV during pregnancy. Strong advocacy and action are needed, including fostering survivors’ educational attainment, diminishing pregnant women’s social and financial dependencies on their intimate partners, promoting pre- and peri-natal health care, informing survivors about help, and increasing gender equality by engaging women and men equally within the whole community. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b8e01438e7cd43b4966ca61674bcec30 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-b8e01438e7cd43b4966ca61674bcec302025-02-02T12:45:43ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-02-0125113010.1186/s12889-025-21421-3Help-seeking behaviors among survivors of intimate partner violence during pregnancy in 54 low- and middle-income countries: evidence from Demographic and Health Survey dataMariella Stiller0Michael Lowery Wilson1Till Bärnighausen2Adebola Adedimeji3Erin Lewis4Anne Abio5Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), University of HeidelbergHeidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), University of HeidelbergHeidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), University of HeidelbergDepartments of Social Sciences and Health Policy and Implementation Science, Wake Forest University School of MedicineDepartments of Social Sciences and Health Policy and Implementation Science, Wake Forest University School of MedicineHeidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), University of HeidelbergAbstract Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy is a global issue of public health importance. Due to the low rates of help-seeking in response to IPV, research on survivors’ help-seeking behaviors is scarce, particularly within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The present study provides a cross-national evidence of informal and formal help-seeking patterns among pregnant women experiencing IPV. Methods This study made use of population-based data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program from 54 LMICs, collected between 2005 and 2020 (N = 359,027). Applying bivariate and multivariable analyses, the present study examined IPV survivors’ help-seeking distributions and associations with individual, partner, family, and community factors. Results Only half of survivors sought help in response to IPV during pregnancy with wide regional and national variations, mainly from informal support networks (including family, neighbors, and friends), and rarely from formal institutions (including legal, socio-cultural, and medical services). Evidence shows that help-seeking behaviors were associated with IPV survivors’ age and educational attainment, survivors’ employment status and earnings compared to their partners, survivors’ consumption of mass media, intimate partner’s age and education, spouse’s alcohol consumption and controlling behaviors, survivors’ wealth index, place of residence, and health-seeking barriers, among others. Conclusion Practitioners are encouraged to consider the study’s outcomes when designing interventions and support for survivors seeking help in response to IPV during pregnancy. Strong advocacy and action are needed, including fostering survivors’ educational attainment, diminishing pregnant women’s social and financial dependencies on their intimate partners, promoting pre- and peri-natal health care, informing survivors about help, and increasing gender equality by engaging women and men equally within the whole community.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21421-3Intimate partner violenceHelp-seekingPregnancyLow- and middle-income countriesDemographic and Health SurveysMaternal health |
| spellingShingle | Mariella Stiller Michael Lowery Wilson Till Bärnighausen Adebola Adedimeji Erin Lewis Anne Abio Help-seeking behaviors among survivors of intimate partner violence during pregnancy in 54 low- and middle-income countries: evidence from Demographic and Health Survey data BMC Public Health Intimate partner violence Help-seeking Pregnancy Low- and middle-income countries Demographic and Health Surveys Maternal health |
| title | Help-seeking behaviors among survivors of intimate partner violence during pregnancy in 54 low- and middle-income countries: evidence from Demographic and Health Survey data |
| title_full | Help-seeking behaviors among survivors of intimate partner violence during pregnancy in 54 low- and middle-income countries: evidence from Demographic and Health Survey data |
| title_fullStr | Help-seeking behaviors among survivors of intimate partner violence during pregnancy in 54 low- and middle-income countries: evidence from Demographic and Health Survey data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Help-seeking behaviors among survivors of intimate partner violence during pregnancy in 54 low- and middle-income countries: evidence from Demographic and Health Survey data |
| title_short | Help-seeking behaviors among survivors of intimate partner violence during pregnancy in 54 low- and middle-income countries: evidence from Demographic and Health Survey data |
| title_sort | help seeking behaviors among survivors of intimate partner violence during pregnancy in 54 low and middle income countries evidence from demographic and health survey data |
| topic | Intimate partner violence Help-seeking Pregnancy Low- and middle-income countries Demographic and Health Surveys Maternal health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21421-3 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariellastiller helpseekingbehaviorsamongsurvivorsofintimatepartnerviolenceduringpregnancyin54lowandmiddleincomecountriesevidencefromdemographicandhealthsurveydata AT michaellowerywilson helpseekingbehaviorsamongsurvivorsofintimatepartnerviolenceduringpregnancyin54lowandmiddleincomecountriesevidencefromdemographicandhealthsurveydata AT tillbarnighausen helpseekingbehaviorsamongsurvivorsofintimatepartnerviolenceduringpregnancyin54lowandmiddleincomecountriesevidencefromdemographicandhealthsurveydata AT adebolaadedimeji helpseekingbehaviorsamongsurvivorsofintimatepartnerviolenceduringpregnancyin54lowandmiddleincomecountriesevidencefromdemographicandhealthsurveydata AT erinlewis helpseekingbehaviorsamongsurvivorsofintimatepartnerviolenceduringpregnancyin54lowandmiddleincomecountriesevidencefromdemographicandhealthsurveydata AT anneabio helpseekingbehaviorsamongsurvivorsofintimatepartnerviolenceduringpregnancyin54lowandmiddleincomecountriesevidencefromdemographicandhealthsurveydata |